The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (197) Private Roy Walton Underwood, 32nd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (197) Private Roy Walton Underwood, 32nd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

197 Private Roy Walton Underwood, 32nd Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 March 1917
Photograph: H06574

Story delivered 11 February 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Roy Walton Underwood.

Roy Underwood was born in Mt Gambier, South Australia, on 2 January 1893. He was one of 13 children born to John and Emily Underwood, 12 of whom survived infancy. He attended the local public school and went on to attend Mt Gambier High School. Roy’s family was well known in the area, where his father was a local councillor and member of the Militia, and ran a boot and shoe store.

In 1908 the Underwoods moved to Adelaide and settled in the suburb of St Peters. Roy worked as a clerk for the Cowell brothers in Norwood, and later for Harris Scarfe. The family had been closely involved in the Baptist church at Mt Gambier, and continued this in Adelaide. Several of Roy’s brothers worked with the church, and at least one became an overseas missionary. Roy taught Sunday School at the Stepney Baptist Church.

Roy Underwood enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915 and was posted to the newly raised 32nd Battalion. He underwent a period of training before being sent to Egypt, and from there to France. In July 1916 the 32nd Battalion participated in the disastrous attack at Fromelles, where it suffered extremely heavy casualties. Nearly three-quarters of its men were killed or wounded. Private Underwood was one of those who survived, and wrote home to say he had had several narrow escapes, with bullet holes put through his uniform and even one of his boots.

The 32nd Battalion would not participate in a major offensive for the rest of the year, although it did hold the front line at times. In March 1917 the it was in the front line near Trônes Wood, where the men of the battalion provided working parties to repair trenches, and sent patrols out into no man’s land on a regular basis. During this period Private Underwood was on duty as a stretcher-bearer. On 5 March the battalion came under heavy shell-fire on occasion, but otherwise experienced a fairly quiet day. Nevertheless, six men were killed, one of whom was Private Roy Underwood.

Underwood’s body was later recovered and he is now buried in the Bancourt Military Cemetery in France. His headstone reads: “Loved son of J.I.U. and E.U. of Adelaide, late of Mt Gambier”. He was 24 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Roy Walton Underwood, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section